By Greg Keim
(One of a Series)
Following two straight seasons with eight returning letterwinners, the Lakeland High School boys basketball team returns six veterans for the 2009-10 campaign.
And, just like a year ago, the level of experience isn’t the highest.
“We are young when it comes to varsity experience,” Laker coach Tim Sirk said.
The Lakers begin the season by hosting Concord in a traditional Thanksgiving Eve opener.
Sirk is back for his 15th season, posting a mark of 190-125 over the first 14. His career record is 253-174 in 20 seasons.
The Lakers (18-6 overall) won both Northeast Corner Conference regular season and tournament titles in 2008-09.
Lakeland advanced to the championship game of a Class 3A sectional at Wawasee before losing to Whitko 51-49.
Most experienced returnees are 6-1 senior Jake Sirk (177 points) and 6-1 classmate Kole Heller (81).
The younger Sirk is a son of the coach.
“Jake and Heller played a lot last season,” coach Sirk said. “Jake is fast and can score. He led last year’s team in free throw percentage. He started some games, but most of the time was our sixth man.
“Heller started most games. He is a tremendous athlete. He was our leading rebounder and has improved his shooting since a year ago.”
Other veterans are 5-11 senior Jordan McMaken, 5-10 junior Adam Garretson, 6-0 junior Caleb Logan and 5-8 junior Scott McKibben.
“McMaken, Garretson and McKibben should all help us,” Sirk said. “Garretson is a good rebounder.
“Strengths of the team should be our shooting and speed. It is yet to be seen how this team is going to rebound or play defense. If we can do those two things along with our good shooting and speed we could be a team to contend with.
“We can run, but I don’t expect to play a style much different than we have in the past. Our defense, which is mainly man-to-man is not going to change much either.
Also on the varsity are 6-2 senior Dakotah Baldridge, 5-8 junior Caleb Lehman, 6-1 junior Glendon Yoder, 5-8 sophomore Jalen King and 5-11 sophomore Creig Leu.
“We have a number of kids who are likely going to be good,” Sirk said. “Our JV was 18-2 or 19-1 last season. King is a potential starter and Leu will play a lot of minutes.
“Baldridge has not played before, but decided to come out as a senior. He has an athletic body.”
Baldridge was starting quarterback and leading scorer (78 points) on the Lakeland football this fall that posted a 7-3 record.
Losses to graduation were Tanner King (471 points), Marcus James (247), Josh Avery (200), Cole Pechin (106), Mike Bowen (40) and Beau Bender (25).
Among assistant coaches this season is former Westview standout Ryan Yoder who had been the head coach at Hamilton.
